What are flame retardants used for?

Ensuring a high level of fire resistance is of great importance in industries such as construction, chemical and electronics. Flame retardants reduce the risk of material ignition and, in the event of fire, limit its spread. In this way, you can effectively minimize losses in the company's equipment and carry out efficient evacuation of personnel. Read how flame retardants for plastics work and where you can find them.

What are flame retardants ?

Flame retardants , also known as flame retardants , are specially designed chemical compounds added to plastics during their production. They make it possible to increase the safety of using the product by reducing the risk of the material catching fire. In practice, more than 100 such substances are used, differing from each other in chemical composition and principle of action.

Flame retardants for plastics can be both organic (e.g. derivatives of bromine, chlorine, phosphorus or nitrogen) and inorganic (e.g. glass, silica, titanium oxide).

The action of flame retardants may consist in:

• rapid heat absorption from the material - slower temperature increase delays or prevents the flame explosion;
• release of compounds that limit the access of oxygen to high-temperature molecules and do not allow ignition - as in the case of some extinguishing substances;
• creating a hardened layer on top of the material, which protects against penetration of heat into the material.

Some flame retardants also create a heat-insulating layer or emit low-reactive radicals that do not undergo the combustion process. What phenomenon occurs in the presence of a given component depends on the structure of the flame retardant. Some of them can only occur in the solid phase, others only in the gas phase of the product.

In many cases, a combination of different types of flame retardants is used to enhance fire protection.

Where are flame retardants most commonly used?

Halogen and phosphorus compounds are considered the most effective. Gradually, however, the former group is being abandoned due to reports of its harmful impact on the environment. Where are phosphorus flame retardants used?

Building Materials

First of all, phosphorus-based compounds are an additive to construction materials. They are a key component of insulation used to improve the thermal performance of residential and utility buildings.

Phosphorous compounds are also added to the sealing foam, which replaces traditional insulation in hard-to-reach places.

fabrics

Fire retardants are used to strengthen fabrics used in the production of e.g. metallurgical, firefighting suits or those used by rally drivers. On a daily basis, you will also find them in an oven mitt designed to grip hot objects.

Plastics

Flame retardants for plastics are present in polyurethane and polypropylene masses. The former are used for the production of jackets, sportswear, trekking shoes, as well as elements of outdoor equipment (e.g. bottles, thermoses).

In turn, polypropylene masses are used for the production of medical equipment, as well as coatings covering wires and car parts.

Paints and varnishes

Flame retardants are a popular addition to substances used in varnishing. Fire retardant paints are usually used to paint wooden structures. They are also used in public facilities such as cinemas, theaters and shopping malls. On sale you will find fire-retardant coatings for internal and external use.

In this case, flame retardants reduce the risk of ignition of fresh paint and limit the spread of fire by creating a foam layer with a compact structure. It restricts heat flow and slows down temperature rise.

What flame retardants can you find in our offer?

We know that user safety is the main criterion when choosing flame retardants. That is why we offer you proven agents of the highest quality.

Roflam F6 plastic flame retardant is a phosphate-based compound. It is perfect for the furniture, transport and construction industries. It can also be used to produce parts of household appliances as well as coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers.

Roflam F6 does not contain halogens, so it is safe for the health of users and the environment. It shows a strong synergy effect with other flame retardants.

Roflam F5 works very similarly to F6, but has a different dynamic viscosity. This may be important when designing the structure of the target product.

• The higher the dynamic viscosity of the additive, the more compact the product will be.
• The lower the dynamic viscosity of the flame retardant, the less cohesive the structure will be.

Roflam B7, on the other hand, is a phosphate compound that combines good anti-inflammatory properties and high mechanical strength. Like the F series, this agent is also free of harmful halogens. In combination with other flame retardants, Roflam B7 has a stronger effect than when used alone.

The substance is used in in the production of cold rooms and refrigerators. It is also used in the automotive industry for the production of seats, soundproofing partitions and parts for refrigerated trucks.

How to choose flame retardants for plastics ?

When choosing flame retardants, you should first of all be guided by the expected properties of the product. In the more demanding conditions it will be used, the more attention should be paid to giving it non-flammable properties.

The use of flame retardants is of great importance wherever people gather. It can be, for example, a workplace, but also public utility facilities. Thanks to the appropriate selection of materials, you can significantly affect the safety of their use.

Check the offer of Distripark flame retardants . If you have questions about the properties or use of specific products, please contact us. We will be happy to help you!